Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 22:57:40 -0400
From: Maggie Heineman
Subject: New PA Anti-Marriage Legislation
Philadelphia Freedom to Marry Coalition
201 South Camac Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-893-9458 Voice and Fax
E-mail PHFtoMarry@aol.com
Web Site: http:www.libertynet.org/~pftmc/
Dear Concerned Community Member:
As I'm sure you know legislation has been introduced in the Pennsylvania
House of Representatives to bar recognition of same-sex marriages performed
legally in other states in the form of HB2604. This bill has been assigned to
the House Judiciary Committee, on which six of its cosponsor sit. This week
also saw the introduction of near identical legislation in the Pennsylvania
Senate as SB1558. These two bills, along with the federal Defense of Marriage
Act (DOMA) complete the legislative assault on equal marriage rights in
Pennsylvania.
In an effort to solidify opposition to these bills from our area legislators,
Philadelphia Freedom to Marry Coalition member organization, Liberty City
Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club has undertaken what promises to be one of the
most successful postcard drives in our community's history. Thanks to Mark
Smith of Liberty City and Jim Pittman of PFTMC this drive, continuing through
Philadelphia's Diversity of Pride Celebration on June 9, 1996 will certainly
surpass all expectations.
I am writing today in hopes that you too, if you have not already, will join
Liberty City Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club, the Pennsylvania ACLU, the
Interfaith Working Group of the Fight the Right Network, the League of Gay
and Lesbian Voters, Men of All Colors Together, Metropolitan Community Church
and all of our other member organizations and activists in taking a
leadership role in this battle. Please take a few minutes to write to your
State Senator and State Representative as well as your federal Representative
and Senators. By far the most efficient way to influence your legislators is
through a personal letter, (which can be sent to :
Senate of Pennsylvania, Senate Post Office, Harrisburg PA 17120-2030
and
PA House of Representatives, House Box 202020, Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
your time and energy will be well spent.
Sincerely,
Joe Perkinson
Co-Chair Philadelphia Freedom to Marry Coalition
In an effort to facilitate focused discussion with legislators the Human
Rights Campaign has prepared the following talking points:
Marriage, a Basic Human Right
In Considering same-sex marriage, it's important to recognize the general,
pervasive discrimination gay men and lesbians face in society. Not only can
we not marry each other anywhere in this county, we can be fired from our
jobs simply for being gay or lesbian. No federal law protects people on the
basis of sexual orientation.
However the vast majority of Americans think this kind of discrimination is
wrong: 74 percent of voters oppose job discrimination against gay people.
Nearly one-third of voters support same-sex marriage. However, 45 percent say
they have not formed clear opinions on the issue. Keep this in mind, then as
the debate about same-sex marriage percolates through communities across the
country.
Marriage is a basic human right and a matter of personal choice, which the
government should not hinder. Adults should be free to choose the person with
whom they want to spend their life. Everyone should have an equal opportunity
*to share in the rights and responsibilities of marriage
Denying people the basic human right of marriage can be extremely harmful to
families. Rights that married couples take for granted are denied gay people
- such as the ability to visit a spouse in the hospital. If your spouse were
injured in an accident or critically ill, how would you feel if you were
denied the right to visit him or her? But because gay people's committed
relationships are not recognized by laws, hospitals and other institutions
sometimes do this.
89 percent of voters polled by Human Rights Campaign said they believe
hospital visitation rights are an important benefit of marriage. 70 percent
believe that gay and lesbian couples should have this benefit.
Likewise, if one partner in a marriage is seriously ill and incapacitated,
the other spouse is allowed to make decisions regarding the care of their
children. This basic right is denied to gay and lesbian couples with children
because their partnerships are not recognized by law.
88 percent of Americans believe guardianship rights are an important benefit
of marriage, 67 percent believe it is appropriate for gay couples to have
this right.
Less than thirty years ago, people of different races were denied the basic
human right to marry one another. The same language used by opponents of
same-sex marriages today was used to oppose interracial marriages.
For years gay men and lesbians have been criticized for their supposed
inability to establish and maintain long-term, committed relationships. Now
the same people who helped perpetuate that stereotype would deny us the right
- and responsibility - to form legally binding commitments to each other.
An effective letter would present any one of these arguments (or an
argument of your own) as a way for your legislator to vote against
anti-marriage legislation. Try to keep your letter short and focused on just
one or two of the many issues involved. Use the letter to tell about how this
legislation would affect you personally. While ideally we might like to see
legislation granting recognition of same-sex marriages, right now we must
concentrate on eroding support for anti-marriage legislation rather than the
process of broad education and social change that will inevitably result in
equal marriage rights for all.
If you're not sure of your State Senator or Representative please call the
League of Gay and Lesbian Voters at 412-421-4470 or Pride of Philadelphia
Election Committee at 215-625-9477.